The Accuracy of the Advanced Mathematics Placement Criteria in Identifying Students for Mathematics Course Acceleration

The purpose of this mixed methods study is to provide data points that address the accuracy of the screening process for students to be accelerated in mathematics courses prior to entering middle school in the South Fayette Township School District. This screening process is a decision that happens prior to sixth grade but has long-lasting implications related to the courses students can take in high school and their trajectory for college and career goals. Prior to this study, the district had never conducted a review of the process that was internally developed. The three research questions that drove this study led to an evaluation of student data related to the five most recent cohorts of students that had been accelerated (150 students), as well as a review of participant feedback from a mathematics teacher perspective survey in which 17 teachers completed. The outcome of this study indicated that the screening process has shown to be successful for over 90% of the students that had been identified through the screening process. However, there was a recommendation that resulted from both the student data and teacher feedback for the district to consider changing one of the criteria in order to enhance the screening process.